Car Seat & Booster Dilema

[matt1979]

So we leave for Disney in a week and wit all the other planning I can't believe today is the first time I'm even thinking about this one. So I rented a CARES hareness for my 2yo for the airplane and wasn't going to worry about lugging down the car seat and booster (for my 5 yo) since we were using Disney transportation. I completely overlooked the fact that we will be renting a car one day and making the drive down to Legoland...so we will indeed need a car seat/booster. So the way I see it we have 3 options.

1) Request a carseat from the car rental place. But a quick Google search shows the car seats from a rental car agency are often in bad/unsafe condition...and occasionally completely unavailable even when requested. Sounds like I'd be rolling the dice there which I'm not too keen on.

2) Rent the car seat and booster from a equipment rental service around Orlando. Seems to be an affordable option from what I can tell...one site looks like a car seat will go for $30/day...not bad since we'll only be needing it for 1 day. But I'm still unsure about the reliability, safety, convenience of this.

3) Just bite the bullet and lug our car seat and booster. Since we have a total of 3 kids...I'd rather not lug them through the airport to the gate on top of everything else. Plus, if we did carry them on...I saw a note on our Magical Express info that said carseats cannot be transported on the ME...which leaves me to question how we get it to our resort. I'm okay checking the car seat booster...but it's unclear to me the fee (we're flying Jet Blue) and if it's substantially more than just renting one when we get there...we'd prefer to just rent as long as we can be confident we're getting safe equipment.

So sorry for the long post...just looking for some input. Anyone have experience with renting baby equipment and can speak to its safety? I suppose that's the way I'd prefer to go at this point if possible. Don't really want to gamble with option 1 and lugging a car seat and booster all the way down for a total of 90 minutes worth of driving in a car seems excessive.

 

[JanaDee]

So we leave for Disney in a week and wit all the other planning I can't believe today is the first time I'm even thinking about this one. So I rented a CARES hareness for my 2yo for the airplane and wasn't going to worry about lugging down the car seat and booster (for my 5 yo) since we were using Disney transportation. I completely overlooked the fact that we will be renting a car one day and making the drive down to Legoland...so we will indeed need a car seat/booster. So the way I see it we have 3 options.

1) Request a carseat from the car rental place. But a quick Google search shows the car seats from a rental car agency are often in bad/unsafe condition...and occasionally completely unavailable even when requested. Sounds like I'd be rolling the dice there which I'm not too keen on.

2) Rent the car seat and booster from a equipment rental service around Orlando. Seems to be an affordable option from what I can tell...one site looks like a car seat will go for $30/day...not bad since we'll only be needing it for 1 day. But I'm still unsure about the reliability, safety, convenience of this.

3) Just bite the bullet and lug our car seat and booster. Since we have a total of 3 kids...I'd rather not lug them through the airport to the gate on top of everything else. Plus, if we did carry them on...I saw a note on our Magical Express info that said carseats cannot be transported on the ME...which leaves me to question how we get it to our resort. I'm okay checking the car seat booster...but it's unclear to me the fee (we're flying Jet Blue) and if it's substantially more than just renting one when we get there...we'd prefer to just rent as long as we can be confident we're getting safe equipment.

So sorry for the long post...just looking for some input. Anyone have experience with renting baby equipment and can speak to its safety? I suppose that's the way I'd prefer to go at this point if possible. Don't really want to gamble with option 1 and lugging a car seat and booster all the way down for a total of 90 minutes worth of driving in a car seems excessive.

I'd go with number 3, because you know the carseat is safe and the child is familiar with the seat.

The carseat can go with you on the Magic Express, it will just be put underneath the bus with all the other luggage.

 

[Gracie09]

I'd go with number 3, because you know the carseat is safe and the child is familiar with the seat. The carseat can go with you on the Magic Express, it will just be put underneath the bus with all the other luggage.

This

 

[matt1979]

I'd go with number 3, because you know the carseat is safe and the child is familiar with the seat.

The carseat can go with you on the Magic Express, it will just be put underneath the bus with all the other luggage.

bah...that's not the answer I wanted! But yeah...that's what my gut says. Why not make the trek through the airport a little more stressful? Anyone have any suggestions on how we can skip right over the whole flying experience and skip right to the arrival at the resort?

 

[pookie10]

Go to walmart, get the cheapo car seats 15.00 for a booster and 25 for a cosco carseat. Then if you REALLY dont want the hassle of bringing them, leave them at the hotel.....

 

[sam_gordon]

Why not get a car seat bag (like this: http://www.amazon.com/Childress-Wheelie-Seat-Travel-Black/dp/B000XA6DC6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1390431125&sr=8-4&keywords=car+seat+bag), put the car seat in it, then put the booster in (where the child would sit in the seat). Zip it up, then check the bag. IIRC, the airlines don't charge for checked car seats. Yes, you have to get it TO the airport, but you wouldn't have to get it THROUGH the airport.

Even if the airline "loses" the bag, you said you're taking ME to your resort. More than likely the airline will get the bag to you in 24-48 hours.

 

[RysMomma]

Go to walmart, get the cheapo car seats 15.00 for a booster and 25 for a cosco carseat. Then if you REALLY dont want the hassle of bringing them, leave them at the hotel.....

This is what I would do. Get the cheap backless booster and an inexpensive car seat. It's only one day and you know they are in good shape. Just my opinion!

 

[mieuxmew]

As long as the child has a ticket, the car seat is free either as a checked bag or gate checked. If you check the bag with the carseat, Disney Magic Express will deliver the bag to your room and you don't have to haul the seat around. The bad is that the baggage handlers may toss around and throw it, which may cause damage to the seat.

I have never traveled with a 2 year old but when my kids were 2 yo their car seats were big, heavy, expensive Britax that we had professionally installed in the car. Not something I would have wanted to take on a plane. A 2 year old is too small for a backless booster. For one day, I would consider renting a seat or purchasing a cheaper seat for travel and consider having it shipped to your hotel and bring it home on the plane with you for the next trip.

 

[Mommee]

What pookie said. The Cosco car seat isn't the comfiest but works fine for short durations and is quite light. Ours came with a travel bag with a handle to get it through the airport (dd slept in it on the plane). It was SO much better than lugging her heavy car seat or dealing with a potentially nasty rental.